Shaun Murphy marches on in Manchester to reach last eight

Murphy was world champion in 2005

Shaun Murphy moved into the quarter-finals of the Players Championship with a 4-1 win over Welshman Dominic Dale.

The victory means the 2005 world champion from England remains on course to win back-to-back ranking titles for the first time in his career.

Murphy, who won the World Grand Prix in Llandudno a fortnight ago, now plays Ben Woollaston in the Manchester event.

Ali Carter defeated fellow Englishman Judd Trump 4-1 to set up a meeting with Ricky Walden, who beat Marco Fu 4-2.

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen set up a quarter-final against Mike Dunn by beating Mark King 4-2.

Allen, who hit a top break of 119, will be facing a player who will be competing in only his second ranking quarter-final.

Redcar man Dunn progressed to the last eight with a 4-2 win over Welshman Ryan Day.

Schedule

Friday, 25 March

Quarter-finals (best of seven frames)

Saturday, 26 March

Semi-finals (best of 11 frames)

NB: Clocks go forward one hour on Sunday, 27 March at 01:00 (1am) to mark the start of British Summer Time (BST).

Sunday, 27 March

Final (best of 19 frames)

Results

Thursday, 24 March

Second round (best of seven frames)

Ben Woollaston (Eng) 4-2 Matthew Selt (Eng)

Shaun Murphy (Eng) 4-1 Dominic Dale (Wal)

Mark Allen (NI) 4-2 Mark King (Eng)

Mike Dunn (Eng) 4-2 Ryan Day (Wal)

Ricky Walden (Eng) 4-2 Marco Fu (HK)

Ali Carter (Eng) 4-1 Judd Trump (Eng)

Ding Junhui (Chn) 4-0 Michael White (Wal)

Barry Hawkins (Eng) 4-3 Robert Milkins (Eng)

Wednesday, 23 March

First round

Barry Hawkins (Eng) 4-2 Michael Holt (Eng)

Matthew Selt (Eng) 4-1 Andrew Higginson (Eng)

Mark Allen (NI) 4-1 Mark Davis (Eng)

Mark King (Eng) 4-2 Sam Baird (Eng)

Ryan Day (Wal) 4-1 Kyren Wilson (Eng)

Tian Pengfei (Chn) 1-4 Robert Milkins (Eng)

Mark Williams (Wal) 3-4 Dominic Dale (Wal)

Tom Ford (Eng) 1-4 Ricky Walden (Eng)

Tuesday, 22 March

First round

Ding Junhui (Chn) 4-1 David Gilbert (Eng)

Marco Fu (HK) 4-3 Alan McManus (Sco)

Shaun Murphy (Eng) 4-1 Liang Wenbo (Chn)

Ben Woollaston (Eng) 4-3 Jimmy Robertson (Eng)

Michael White (Wal) 4-2 Luca Brecel (Bel)

Allister Carter (Eng) 4-1 Graeme Dott (Sco)

Martin Gould (Eng) 1-4 Judd Trump (Eng)

Rory McLeod (Eng) 1-4 Mike Dunn (Eng)